Leaking antifreeze

[YIRYDE]

It looks to me as if that's your oil pressure switch so I'd think that coolant leaking from that isn't possible.
Coolant could collect on it from the worm & roller clamp located above it.
JMHO.

Roger,

Thanks for the reply and I will check the clamp you suggested again.

 

[NancysToy]

This thread is really worth the time to read over. Seems like the Aprilia guys have it figured out. http://www.apriliaforum.com/forums/showthread.php?34770-Water-Pump-Seals

One thing to note, is that from my understanding if you buy a clutch cover housing it comes with the seals already installed. So, to install the shaft you have to drive it through both seals (not good). This along with burs on the shaft as well as possible sloppy installation practices (using a hammer, haha...), can make the seal real prone to failure.

I figure I'll give the dealer one shot with it since mine is still under warranty. However, it really doesn't seem to be that big of a deal to do this repair correctly with just a little attention to detail....

Good Luck Guys!
Doug

Now we're talking! This is how it would be done with large water pump. A ceramic seal has to be carefully handled, and cannot just have a shaft pounded through it. That being said, all mechanical seals will leak a tiny bit. That is why there is a weep hole. If a seal doesn't leak enough fluid by to cool the faces, it will gall and fail over time. It is when the leak becomes objectionable that the seal must be replaced. How much is "too much" is subject to interpretation, though.

Thanks for digging this up.

I also just found antifreeze leaking and I think it coming from this area in the attached photo. I checked for loose clamps and didn't see any antifreeze leaking at the clamps.

Can someone tell me what this item is and is it possible for antifreeze to leak from this part?

As was said, oil pressure switch. Your antifreeze leak is probably coming from somewhere else, and just collecting there. It doesn't even have to come from above. The air in this area is not still, and drops can blow anywhere, or be forced there by the motion of the vehicle.

 

[YIRYDE]

See my post #9, I had anti-freeze on the oil pressure switch also. I was not able to see the leak at the hose until I took the photo.

JJW,

I saw your post and submitted the picture that you took to show the area of my leak. I will check that clamp again and I hope it will fix my leak as it has fixed others.

Thanks for the tip.

 

[JJW SpyderRider]

JJW,

I saw your post and submitted the picture that you took to show the area of my leak. I will check that clamp again and I hope it will fix my leak as it has fixed others.

Thanks for the tip.

That's why the photo looked so familiar :banghead: I thought that was a photo of your leak. I had to stick that camera right up in there to get the photo. Until I took the photo I was not able to see the leak even using a flash light.

 

[gypsy_100]

This thread is really worth the time to read over. Seems like the Aprilia guys have it figured out. http://www.apriliaforum.com/forums/showthread.php?34770-Water-Pump-Seals

One thing to note, is that from my understanding if you buy a clutch cover housing it comes with the seals already installed. So, to install the shaft you have to drive it through both seals (not good). This along with burs on the shaft as well as possible sloppy installation practices (using a hammer, haha...), can make the seal real prone to failure.

I figure I'll give the dealer one shot with it since mine is still under warranty. However, it really doesn't seem to be that big of a deal to do this repair correctly with just a little attention to detail....

Good Luck Guys!
Doug

The Aprilia thread is quite interesting and informative. However, it seems BRP has gotten a little smarter since then. The ceramic seal and water pump shaft come only as a complete unit, with the seal factory-mounted on the shaft. That takes the mechanic out of the picture as far as properly getting the seal on the shaft, which is what the Aprilia thread is all about. An oil seal does have to be installed in the clutch cover housing but that is straightforward. Then the shaft/ceramic-seal assembly is installed in the clutch cover housing, sliding the shaft thru the oil seal and seating the ceramic seal in position. A special tool is required to press the ceramic seal (with the shaft already in it) into place. To me it seems the chances of damaging the seal with this technique are much less than if the mechanic had to install the seal on the shaft. As for the experience with my RT, two different technicians have been involved in my four seals -- the lead tech did three installs and one was done by the other BRP tech when the lead tech was on vacation. So I've had two different tech's involved, both with the same result. Further, I know they've had many discussions with BRP over this so I feel confident BRP gave them lots of advice on making sure it was done properly.

As for the clutch cover housing, when that is purchased, it comes with an oil seal (don't know if it's installed or just provided) and a couple sets of plain bearings which support the end of the crankshaft and balance shaft. They provide different-sized bearings and the tech has to match the bearings to the shaft sizes and then install the proper bearings in the clutch cover housing. The water-pump shaft/ceramic-bearing assembly is sold and provided separately from the clutch cover housing and is installed as above.

I agree, it shouldn't be all that big a deal to do correctly. The hardest part is getting access. Lots of stuff has to be gotten out of the way. My tech's decided to take the frunk off for better access even though the manual would have you go in just from the side.

Now I wait for BRP's response once again.

 

[NancysToy]

Good to know. Thanks, Dave!

 

[DrewNJ]

Great info guys! My mistake, I didn't even get as far as the parts list for BRP....sorry about that. I wonder what the physical difference is, if any, between the Aprilia parts and the BRP parts.... What's even more odd is the price difference between the two! The BRP parts are about 1/3 the cost. :yikes:

It looks like if the shaft and seal are all one assembly it should take out the installation concerns of having to run the shaft through two seals. Hopefully the techs are pressing the shaft/seal assembly into the clutch cover housing instead of hammering it into place... Is it possible these "assemblies" are getting damaged during assembly?

I still for the life of me can't understand why there are so many issues with Rotax water pumps. The shaft/ceramic seal design is pretty tried n' true and has been around and used for years on quite a few other platforms.

I'm going to let the dealer do mine the first time and go from there.... I might even try to get the old parts back and see if I can get one of the Aprilia guys to send me an old shaft/seal to compare....